Milson has his chance to release pressure

Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.

Tanner Milson is willing to do whatever's necessary to help the UNCW men's basketball team – hit a free throw, sit on the bench clapping, fill up cups of water. Entering the fourth game of the season, the Seahawks need him to handle the ball.

Facts

UNCW (1-2) at Purdue (1-3)

When: 8 p.m., WednesdayWhere: Mackey Arena (14,240)TV / Radio: Big 10 Network / 104.5 FMHawk Talk: Seahawks difficult early road swing ends with a visit to the Boilermakers, who are rebuilding and projected to finish in the middle-of-the-pack in a loaded Big Ten Conference. UNCW is shooting 37.7 percent from the field and averaging 21.7 turnovers per game. Purdue guard Anthony Johnson (9.0 ppg) and UNCW guard Luke Hager (2.7 ppg) were teammates at Whitney Young HS in Chicago.Even More: For Wednesday's thoughts before and the game and over the weekend heading into the Seahawks' Thanksgiving homestand, head to DubHub.Blogs.StarNewsOnline.com.

Turnovers have crippled UNCW thus far, so coach Buzz Peterson is shifting Milson back to point guard, where he played in stints during his first two seasons. It's hardly an ideal scenario for the Seahawks, but averaging 21.7 turnovers per game is unacceptable and demands action.

"I feel like it should help our team early in games," Milson said. "To help get everybody get settled down, get them where they need to be and let the game come to us."

In their last two road outings, an early turnover onslaught buried the Seahawks. They committed nine first-half turnovers to produce 12 points for Richmond in falling behind by 20 points. Against Ohio, which was second in the nation in forcing turnovers last season, UNCW's ballhandling was sloppier. The Seahawks coughed up the ball on seven of eight trips to open the game, Ohio built a 15-point lead, and rolled to a blowout victory.

The player Milson is replacing in the starting lineup, Craig Ponder, has been the biggest mystery so far. After a solid preseason, the redshirt freshman has been passive, indecisive and loose with the ball in the three games, committing one turnover every three minutes.

Milson and Ponder roomed together during the Ohio game. The junior tried to encourage the self-critical freshman, whose confidence is shattered.

"I've tried to share some knowledge, but a lot of it, when I put myself in his shoes and look at freshman year and playing point guard, there wasn't much you could tell me that was going to help me," Milson said. "It's just about going out there and getting your butt kicked. Trial by fire is the way to learn."

Peterson hasn't counted Ponder out of the team's plans. He wants to ease him into the rotation as a secondary ballhandler, which will allow him to relax and contribute. The strong, athletic guard was supposed to be the Seahawks' best penetrator.

Milson thinks his teammate, who has played seven Division I games, will thrive once he learns to keep the game simple.

"A lot of our (halfcourt) sets have called for him to set the play up and hold his guy off when he's getting pressured real hard," Milson said. "It's tough when the wings are getting denied and the posts are getting denied. He's having a lot of trouble trying to get creative when facing tough ball pressure. I think once he learns that when he gets pressured, he should just drive by the guy, he'll be fine. Honestly, that's one of our best offenses, if he's breaking his guy down, making somebody else help."

<p>Tanner Milson is willing to do whatever's necessary to help the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a> men's basketball team – hit a free throw, sit on the bench clapping, fill up cups of water. Entering the fourth game of the season, the Seahawks need him to handle the ball.</p><p>Turnovers have crippled UNCW thus far, so coach <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9942"><b>Buzz Peterson</b></a> is shifting Milson back to point guard, where he played in stints during his first two seasons. It's hardly an ideal scenario for the Seahawks, but averaging 21.7 turnovers per game is unacceptable and demands action.</p><p>"I feel like it should help our team early in games," Milson said. "To help get everybody get settled down, get them where they need to be and let the game come to us."</p><p>In their last two road outings, an early turnover onslaught buried the Seahawks. They committed nine first-half turnovers to produce 12 points for Richmond in falling behind by 20 points. Against Ohio, which was second in the nation in forcing turnovers last season, UNCW's ballhandling was sloppier. The Seahawks coughed up the ball on seven of eight trips to open the game, Ohio built a 15-point lead, and rolled to a blowout victory.</p><p>The player Milson is replacing in the starting lineup, Craig Ponder, has been the biggest mystery so far. After a solid preseason, the redshirt freshman has been passive, indecisive and loose with the ball in the three games, committing one turnover every three minutes.</p><p>Milson and Ponder roomed together during the Ohio game. The junior tried to encourage the self-critical freshman, whose confidence is shattered.</p><p>"I've tried to share some knowledge, but a lot of it, when I put myself in his shoes and look at freshman year and playing point guard, there wasn't much you could tell me that was going to help me," Milson said. "It's just about going out there and getting your butt kicked. Trial by fire is the way to learn."</p><p>Peterson hasn't counted Ponder out of the team's plans. He wants to ease him into the rotation as a secondary ballhandler, which will allow him to relax and contribute. The strong, athletic guard was supposed to be the Seahawks' best penetrator.</p><p>Milson thinks his teammate, who has played seven Division I games, will thrive once he learns to keep the game simple.</p><p>"A lot of our (halfcourt) sets have called for him to set the play up and hold his guy off when he's getting pressured real hard," Milson said. "It's tough when the wings are getting denied and the posts are getting denied. He's having a lot of trouble trying to get creative when facing tough ball pressure. I think once he learns that when he gets pressured, he should just drive by the guy, he'll be fine. Honestly, that's one of our best offenses, if he's breaking his guy down, making somebody else help."</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic94"><b>Brian Mull</b></a>: 343-2034</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @BGMull</p>